SciAm Perspectives: We Can Do More

The August 2008 issue of Scientific American has an article on the current global food crisis.

"Global food prices have roughly doubled in three years." The price increases and their impact on hunger were discussed at the World Food Summit in Rome in early June. "The current crisis means that another 100 million hungry may join the 854 million who already lack sufficient daily nourishment. An immediate response should include policies that discourage grain hoarding, that reapportion the way food aid is delivered and that ensure that subsidies for food purchases are carefully targeted to reach the truly poor. Just shipping more grain to Africa, by far the most vulnerable region, will not suffice. Over the long haul, science and technology have a big role to play."